Dispenser for hairdressing liquids



DIsrENsER Fon HAIRDREsslNG LIQUlDs Duane V. McConnohie, Coral Gables, Fla., assignor to Marion S. Pump, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application September 24, 1956, Serial No. 611,690

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-207) This nvention relates, in general, to a device for dispensing hairdressing liquids in controllable amounts and, more particularly, to a type thereof whereby said liquids can be removed from a container, raised above the level of said container and then discharged with directional and quantitative control.

It is well known that the dispensing of certain hairdressing liquids, such as a soap solution used to Shampoo hair, has in the past been inconvenient, inefi'icieut and generally troublesome. Prior to my nvention, it has been standard practice either to pour the liquid soap from a relatively small container into the palm of the hand ofthe person perfor'ming the washing operation, or to provide the container with a cap having a restrictive opening through which the liquid is expelled by a jerk- -ing motion of the container. Both of these methods have been unsatisfactory because of the mess which they create,

because of the inability to control accurately either thev direction or quantity of the liquid which ultimately reaches the hair, and because they necessitate the frequent transfer of the liquid soap from the relatively large containers, in which it is delivered to the place of use, into much smaller containers, which can be conveniently handled by the operator. 'Furthermore, neither method is able to deposit the liquid soap close to the scalp.

Accordingly, a primary object of this nvention is the provision of a liquid dispenser, whereby a hairdressing liquid, such as a soap solution, can be removed from a relatively large container, raised to a level above said container and positively dispensed in controllable amounts at points spaced a substantial distance from said' container, without creating the mess normally incident to such an operation, and whereby the most efficient and v effective use can be made of the solution dispensed.

A further object of this nvention is the provision of a dispenser, as aforesaid, which provides positive control over the direction of the dispensing of the liquid, without the use of power-driven equipment, and which can be arranged toV control relatively accurately the amount of liquid dispensed.

A further object of this nvention is the provision of a dispenser, as aforesaid, which is relatively inexpensive to fabricate, which is extrernely easy to operate, which can be easily adapted to use with any conventional type of container, which is completely foolproof in operation, which can withstand rough treatment, which requires little or no adjustment, and which, under normal operat- Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV- IV of Figure 1.

General description In order to meet the objects and purposes set forthv above, as well as others incidental thereto, I have provided a liquid dispenser 10 (Figures 1 'and 2), comprised of a resiliently-flexible shell or bulb 11 defining a pressure control chamber 12 connected to, and communicating with, a discharge nozzle 13 at one end and an inlet tube 14 at the other end. Said tube 1'4 is extendable into a container 1-5 and is provided withV a connector 16 for securing said tube 14 with respect to the container. A discharge check valve assembly 17 is provided in the discharge passageway 18, which extends from the chamber 12 through the discharge nozzle 13. Aninlet check ,valve assembly 19, which may be similar to the discharge check valve assembly 17, is disposed within the inlet passageway 20, which extends from said chamber 12 through the inlet tube 14. Said check valve assemblies 17 and 19 are arranged to permit the flow of liquid from the inlet tube 14 through the chamber 12 and the nozzle 13, said liquid being discharged through the nozzle orifice 21 in a manner discussed in detail hereinafter.

Detailed construction As shown particularly in Figures 1 and 2, the shell or bulb 1'1 is fabricated, as by molding, from a conventional, resiliently flexible material, such `as rubber, in a somewhat elliptical shape, preferably having a circular cross-section and being of a size which will fit comfortably within the grip of a normal, average, adult hand. The material from which said bulb 11 is fabricated s sufiiciently resistive to compression, as by squeezing, that it will tend to return to its normal Shape, Vshown in Figures 1 and 2, with considerable force after it is released from such compression. The ribs 25 placed on, and integral with, the outer surface of the bulb 11 not only tend to provide additional resistance to such compression, but also provide gripping means on the bulb.

The opposite ends of the bulb 11 (Figure 2) are provided with integral, preferably coaxial, tubular extensions 26 and 27. The tubular inlet extension 26 snugly receives the Outlet end 39 of the cylindrical valve body' 28, which is partof the inlet check valve assembly 19. The valve body 2'8 (Figure 3) is preferably elongated and cylindrical in shape and has a coaxial valve passageway 29 extendingptherethrough. The outlet end `31 of the valve passageway 29 is of enlarged diameter, whereby a conical valve seat 32 is providedwithin the valve body 28. A valve 33, having a'stem 34 and a conical valve head 35, is disposed within the passageway`29 so `way 29 and bears against the valve head 3'5. 'Said spring Vsaid hooks 37 an'df38 are formed by bending portionsof V36 'is held under compression within said end portion 31 and against thevalve head. 35 by means of `the hooks 37 and 38,which extendinwardly fromf the outlet -end 39 of the-valve body 2'8.v In this particular embodiment,

i' the outlet end 39 of saidvalve body 28 radially inwardly Figure 1 is a broken, side elevational view of an ap-l i III of Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line toward each other. w i .They outer surface of the valve body 28 (Figures 2 andz3) is provided withjan annular flange 41 substantial- 1 .ly midway between the axial ends thelreof, one side of .f

said flange being engaged by the adjacent end of the inlet 'extension '26 when the outlet= end 39 of thevalve' *i .1 J end of' the inletv tube 14 when-the 'inlet end Si-of sa'df valve `beeya'siir. aiseseav'vififin said inlet tube 164. A

pair of-spaced,--gripping rings42fencircle, and are integral with, said valve body 28 on, both sides of the flange 41 for the purpose of preventing disengagement of said valve body28Jrforri4 its position withinftheiinlet etenson`t26 of the inlet tube 14-. The valve spring 36 pre'ferably selected so that it Willnormally ;hold-the valve 33 vsnugly against vthe .valve seat 32 until-therefis a materialvpressure ditfejrential'on opposite,` axialtsides of the :valve 33. `VI-Io'wr ever, said spring 36 is `also selected so that the pressure` decrease created in the chamber 12, as the bulb 1'1 moves' from a compressed position to its normal extended position, will be consider'ably more than enough to compress said lspring 36 as the .valve head 35 is drawn away from 28 o f the ;inlet check valve assembly 19. The inlet end V 4 6`of thetvalve body 45 is snugly received within the discharge extension .27 on the bulb 11, in a manner similar to that in which the outlet end 39 of ,the valve. body 28 is received into the inlet extension 26.' The outlet end 47 of the valvebody 45 is snugly'received within the discharge nozzle 13. The discharge valve body 45 has -a valve passageway 48 and a valve seat 49,7in whichila valve 51 is normally held in the closedposition by means of a spiral valve spring 52, in substantially the Vsame manner'set forth hereinabove with respect to the i'nlet check valve assembly 19. Since thevalve assemblies 17 and 19 are substantially identical in `this particular embodiment, further detailed description of the discharge check valve assfemblyr17 is believed unnecesi Sary.

lft `has been found advantageous to provide a valve spring 52 in the discharge check valve assembly 17 ,of somewhat greater strengththan that of the valve spring 36 `in the inlet valve assembly 19, in order to prevent bulb 11 is preferably flexible, thereby providing substantial freedom in vthe `manipulation of thebulb 11. The portion 54 of said `tube 14 remote from the bulb 11 is preferably in the form of a relatively stifi pipe. In this particular embodiment, the connector 16 `for securing the,`

tube A14 with respect to the container 15 includes a cy- Iindrical cap 55 ihaving a central opening 58 theren, n i which-a sealing grommet 56 is snugly disposed. The pipe 54 vslidably,`but snugly, `extends through the opening 57 in the grommet 56, whereby the amount of said pipe 54` disposed within the container 15 may be easily and quickly adjusted.

Operation As indicated by the foregoing description, operation of the dispensing device Vis preceded by mounting the connector 16 upon the container 15, sothat'the stiif pipe 54 of the inlet tube 14 extends into the liquid dis-` posed within the container 15. In thisparticular em bodiment, the connector 16 includes a cap 55, whichhas a vent opening 59 and is securable to the neck of the con-' tainer 15.' Proper adjustment of the pipe 54 with respect to thecontainer may be obtained simply by sliding said pipe upwardly or downwardly through the opening'57 in the sealing grommet 56;A The dispens'ing'dei vi'c'e 10 is now ready for operation.

EOperation of the dispenserV commenced `by 2moving the ;liquidi'from'the.contaner .15 up throughthe inlet Masta; g.

' control chamber \12,thereby. expellingtheair `in. saidh the bulb 'immediately moves toward its normallexpanded position, thereby creating a decrease in pressure within theV pressure control chaniber 12. This Vpermitsithe disi charge valve spring 52 to'return the valve 51 to its closed position and, at'the same time, `opens theinlet valve 33, while compressing the inletW valve spring 36. The decrease in pressure fW-ithinfthe pressure control chamber v12 also draws the liquid within the container 15 at least partially through the inlet tube 14 toward the pressure control charnber v12. When the` bulb 11 reaches its normal extended position, a combination of the pressure headwithinthe inlet tube 14 and the action of thevalve spring 36 icauses the -inlet valve- 33 lto close, thereby preventing the'liquid within the itube 14 from returning to the containerl15= Each succeeding compression and' release of the bulb 11 causes the liquid -to move'ia further distance through the inlet tube 14,'until it'finally reacheslthegpressure Vcontrol Chamber 12.V When said liquid reaches said the air disposed within fthe charnber 12 can be expelled before the liquid 'is Ydischarged therefrorn. The force withwhichthe liquidis expelled is Controlled `by the rate of compressionfarid, therefore, canbe varied from a pene`` trating Streamto a dribble.

Control of the jamount of liquid discharged from the Chamber 12 with'each compression of the bulb 1,1 can be effected by `carefully selecting for .a given service the size of the Chamber 12, and then Substantially completelyV collapsing' the bulb `11` with each operation 'thereof Alternatively,'the `eitent to' which `the bulb 11 is com-` tpressed can 'be manually Controlled with reasonable accuracy after some experience, without completely collapsing the bulb. As mentioned above, appropriate selec-` tion of a valve spring'52 will prevent accidental unseating of theivalve `511and consequential leakage. The difference between the pressure against theinner end of the valve 51,-due to the weight of the liquid thereagainst,

even when said bulb 11-jis a 'substantial dstance ,below the containerlS, s ,rela'tvely smallcby comparson to the pressure whichnia'y'be 'imposed upon said valve :51 by compressing the 'bulb 1'1, "even when such compression is ;effected :by a person .having a 'relatively weak` grip.

Thus, the valve spring 52 can be made adequately strong i to preventsaid` leakage, without impeding in any material`V` amount the discha'rgng of the liquid -throughithe discharge valve `assembly 17 .when the bulb 111is compressed.

On the otherhand, thevalve spring 36l need only 'be strong enoughflpto provide a positive seating of the inlet` valve-33, Whereby `to prevent sphoning from the pressure charnber 12 back 1intothecontainer 15.

After the .container 15 has Vbeen emptied, the'dispens-` ingfdevice .10.can 'bequickly `removed from the container' 15, and either placed Jon another full container or rei placed :upon the ;first container after it is, refilled. `AfterA the dispeinsi'rig devic'e'10 is onnectedto the freshfsupply i of liquid, saidliquid jcaniagain be moved up through`l By holding the bulb'll so that thenoz'zle `13points upwardly,` substantiallyall of aeaaut seope of such disclosure, are fully contemplated unless specifically stated to the contrary in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for dispensing hairdressing liquids from a container in carefully controllable amounts comprising: an elongated manually compressible and resiliently flexible shell definng a liquid chamber, said shell being capable of fitting comfortably into the grasp of an average normal adult hand and having gripping means on the exterior surface thereof; a first integral tubular extension at one end of said shell definng an inlet passageway communicating with said chamber; a second integral tubular extension at the other end of said shell definng an outlet passageway communicating with said chamber; a pair of substantially similar check valve assemblies, each valve assembly including an elongated tubular and one piece body member having an integral annular and outwardly extending flange approximately midway between the ends' thereof, a coaxial passageway therethrough, an annular valve lseat in said passageway facing one end thereof, a valve engageable with said seat, a pair of elements integral with said body member and extending into said passageway near said one end thereof and spaced from said seat, a valve spring held under continuous compression between said elements and said valve, and gripping ridges integral with and encircling said body member on both sides of said flange, one end of one valve assembly being removably and snugly insertable into the inlet passageway up to said flange and sensed to prevent the flow of liquids out of said chamber, and one end of the other of said valve assemblies being removably and snugly insertable into the outlet passageway up to said flange and sensed to prevent flow of liquid into said chamber; an elongated inlet tube connectable at one end with said container, its other end being removably and firmly sleeved upon the other end of said one valve assembly up to the flange thereon; and a short outlet nozzle removably and firmly sleeved upon the other end of the other said valve assembly up to the flange thereon; the size of said chamber and the flexibility of said shell being such that a normal manual compression of said shell discharges from said nozzle a selected amount of fluid from said chamber and release of said shell draws said amount into said chamber from said container.

2. A device for dispensing hairdressing liquids from a container in carefully controllable amounts comprising: an elongated manually compressible and resilently flexible shell definng a liquid chamber, said shell being capable of fitting comfortably into the graps of an aver' age, normal adult hand; a first integral tubular extension at one end of said shell definng an inlet passageway communicating with said chamber; a second integral tubular extension at the other end of said shell definng an outlet passageway communicating with said chamber; a pair of substantially similar check valve assemblies, each valve assembly including an elongated tubular and one piece body member having an integral outwardly extending flange approximately midway between the ends thereof, a coaxial passageway therethrough, an annular valve seat in said passageway facing one end thereof, a valve engageable with said seat, stop means associated with said body member and extending into said passageway near said one end thereof and spaced from said seat, a valve spring held under continuous compression between said stop means and said valve, and gripping means integral with said body member on both sides of said flange, one end of one valve assembly being re' movably and snugly insertable into the inlet passageway up to said flange and sensed to prevent the flow of liquids out of said chamber, and one end of the other of said valve assemblies being removably and snugly insertable into the outlet passageway up to said flange and sensed to prevent flow of liquid into said chamber; an elongated inlet tube connectible at one end with said container, its other and being removably and firmly sleeved upon the other end of said one valve assembly up to the flange thereon; and a short outlet nozzle removably and firmly sleeved upon the other end of the other said valve assembly up to the flange thereon; the size of said chamber and the flexibility of said shell being such that a normal manual compression of said shell discharges from said nozzle a selected amount of fluid from said chamber and release of said shell draws said amount into said chamber from said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 364,819 Hauser June 14, 1887 745,876 Medley Dec. 1, 1903 2,264,099 Shaw Nov. 25, 1941 2.362,215 Morreale Nov. 7, 1944 2,560,093 Doble July 10, 1951 2.795.245 Meehan Inne 11. 1957 

